Can an infected tooth, spread to the brain?


Question:
I have had many infections in my jaw (surrounding a bad tooth) for years. I also have a HUGE phobia of the dentist, and would rather not see one at all. I have tried all kinds of home remidies to ease the pain, and the infections so far have all went away. Ive tried salt water (for drawing out infection), alcohol (also to draw out infection and numb the pain), orjels, ambisols, and advil.But i was told that an infected tooth, not treated, can spread infection to your brain and kill you. Is this true?
Also, can an infection go away on its own?

Answers:
Yes, a tooth that has abscessed or is infected can effect the body as a whole by way of the blood stream. Dental infections have been known to cause serious illness, and yes, even death when left untreated. Infections do not "go away" they must be treated with the appropriate antibiotics. Take my advice, see your dentist as soon as possible. If you don't get this treated, you may not have to worry about having any phobias.

Additional information: This is for all of you who keep saying "no" an infection can't kill you. You really shouldn't answer a question if you don't know the correct answer. Especially since some of the incorrect advice given, if actually taken could lead to traumatic if not life threatening results. If you can recall the news, it was several months ago there was a young boy who died, he had an abscessed or infected tooth and his mother couldn't afford to take him to the dentist. Anybody else want to add that an infection can not result in death? I am sorry but many years ago before there was a dentist on every street corner, people actually died from abscessed teeth. Do your homework before you answer a question you really don't know the answer to please.
No it cant go to your brain but infections are in your blood stream and can infect other parts of your body and cause health problems. An infection needs to be treated and can be done by an antiobiotic/RCT/extraction. It will not go away on its own but may "come and go" so to speak.
yes, the infection can spread all over the body, and kill you...also a continued infection will also eat away at the bone. you should get the tooth pulled...but the dentist will give you antibiotics first, because they don't pull infected teeth, because if they did all that infection will spread faster throughout your body. and for the answer above mine, ...you got blood going to your brain don't you? so if the infection is indeed in the blood, it would spread to your brain eventually.
Go to the dentist! they can put you to sleep to fix this you need antibiotics to get the infection out. a tooth infection can cause you to go septic and it will kill you. The infection will not go away on its own you need to go to he dentist this can be a serious problem.
I am not sure if it can go to your brain, but my mother had an infection in her tooth about a year ago. Her appointment to remove the tooth was a few months off and she started feeling very badly. She could not stand up for long, she had constant body pain, and just did not feel well. The doctors ran tests and could not discover what was causing the problems. It was finally found out that the infection had spread through her bloodstream. They took out the tooth right away and she recovered and felt fine quickly. My advice, remove it ASAP.
I understand your phobia about the dentist. I hate them! But I had to have a tooth pulled. I don't know if the infection can spread but you need to get an antibiotic to take care of it asap. Also since my bad tooth was pulled I've had a lot less migraines. Just a thought!
Actually, it can. My father-in-law had several bad teeth that became infected. The infection reached the blood stream and spread to the brain. He ended up having surgery to remove the infection in his brain and had to have his remaining teeth pulled. He lost some feeling on his right side and still has a hard time walking. I don't like the dentist either, but as soon as I had a wisdom tooth come in and became infected, I went and had all my wisdom teeth removed right away. I wouldn't wait. I would go even if you are not having pain right now.

Good luck!
No, because the teeth is not an organ, just a piece of your bones.
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